Fashion Statement

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When Ryou came into school that day, he saw every getting primped up for something. 'What is it...picture day or something?' he thought to himself as he walked on to meet up with his friend, Malik who was also doing the same. "Hey, Malik. What's going on here?" His friend looked over to him and smiled. "Well, you know Bakura Siraj, right?"

"Well of course..." he said with a small blush dusting across his face.

"Well everyone primping themselves up for his latest party that he holds. Invitation only." he said and Ryou gasped. "Do you think I might get a chance?" Malik nodded. "Of course! Just sit back and be cool." Ryou nodded and relaxed, standing beside Malik as he saw Bakura coming towards them. He yelped though as two shadows overcame him. "Aww, is the little rabbit trying to fit in?" A teasing voice asked. "Looks like he is~ Too bad he doesn't know his place in this school." The other spoke and Malik groaned. 'Not again...' Before Ryou stood the fashion divas themselves, Vivian and Mai. Boys wanted to date them; girls wanted to be them. The only ones that didn't care were himself and Ryou. 'Sadly, I'll have to deal with them at the party...' he thought. "Hey, back off. No one asked you to be the center of attention again." he growled as Bakura stepped over to them. "Hey, Malik. Wanna come to my party?" he asked and Malik nodded. "Sure. I have a friend of mine that I want you to meet." he stated, taking the invitation before grabbing Ryou from behind the two girls and pulled him out. Ryou smiled a little and waved to him.

"Come on, Bakura. You did say this was going to be a formal event." Vivian said.

"From the looks of him, he doesn't have a formal thing to wear. Plain jeans and a white sweater. So last season." Mai added. Bakura was skeptical of the two but didn't get the chance to get a word in before he was led off. Ryou sighed and looked down. "They're right. I'm not made for such a formal affair." he muttered before walking off, schoolbooks clenched tightly to his chest. "Hey, hey, hey..." Malik started as he ran after his friend. "Don't say that. I'm gonna get you into that party, you just watch. I know a couple people that know a little about fashion." Ryou looked up to him and smiled.

"Really? That would be great." Malik smiled and nodded.

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After school, Malik dragged Ryou along with him to a shady location in the slums of Domino. "Um...Malik...is this a good idea?" He laughed softly as he turned back to Ryou. "Come on, Ryou. Give me a little credit here." he said as he stopped at a building and walked inside. When Ryou stepped in, he was amazed at what he saw. "Guess I should really listen to that quote 'don't judge a book by its cover'." he murmured and Malik laughed as he called out for the person inside. A door opened and a beautiful woman came out, wearing a shimmering red dress. She smiled as she walked over to Malik and hugged him. "Hey there, Malik. How have you been and where's Topaz?"

"He's at home and I'm doing great, Keara. But I need some help. I'm sure you heard of Bakura's exclusive, invitation only parties, right?"

"Well of course. I get invited to it every once in a while."

"Well, my friend here," He brought Ryou forward. "Wants to go but thanks to the 'fashionistas' of the school, they dragged him away before we got a chance to chat about that. So I want you to give him some nice threads to catch the attention of Bakura. Hell, even make him the center of attention so those two wastes of space know how it feels to be lame and unappealing." Keara laughed before nodding and took Ryou's hand. "Now let's get you spruced up for a party." she said as she led him into the back room. She sat Ryou down into a chair before examining him. "Hmm, light colors should suit you just fine." she whispered before smiling as she took a cloth from the side and draped it over him. "Um...not to question your methods but how will this help?" he asked.

"You'll see soon enough." she said cheekily as she spun the revolving chair. "Eek!" Ryou cried out and closed his eyes. Even with the cloth over his face, he didn't want to risk the chance of getting dizzy. The chair made an abrupt stop and the faint glow of light appeared behind his eyelids and he cracked open an eye to look to Keara. "Am...I done?" She smiled and nodded. She went to grab a floor mirror and brought it over to him. "Stand and take a look at yourself." He nodded as he got out the chair, wobbling a little before looking at himself in the mirror and gasped. The outfit given to him made him look like a completely different person. His white hair was tied back into a ponytail with a black band, his clothes changed from his dull white sweater and jeans to a lovely white and silver silk shirt of Japanese design embroidered with angelic and demonic wings on the front and sky blue jeans with cobalt flames along the hem.

"Whoa, you really did a number for me. I look like a totally different person." he whispered as he did a little turn to get a look at himself at all angles. Keara smiled and patted his head lightly. "Nothing but the best so get back to school, strut your stuff and enjoy yourself at the party." she said and he smiled. "I will! Thank you so much!" he said before heading back out. Malik whistled and nodded in appreciation. "You're a shoe-in now. Don't let Vivian and Mai get you down should they see you." Ryou nodded and both left to head home for the night, ready for tomorrow.

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When Ryou got to school the next day, he stood by the doors and took a breath before walking inside. As soon as he stepped in, he had someone walked up to him, asking about the change in attire. He smiled softly as more and more people came to compliment him on his outfit. Not too far from the group of students, Bakura watched and smiled. "He cleaned himself up nicely." he murmured before calling out to him despite Mai and Vivian trying to stop him. "Ryou, hey there." he greeted as he walked over to the teen. Ryou looked up and smiled, blushing a little.

"Hey, Bakura."

"I'm sure you know about my party this Friday."

"Of course. It's the biggest thing to come to the school. Anyone who doesn't hear about it is well out of the loop." Bakura chuckled softly before taking out another invitation. "So why don't you come as well? I'm sure your sparkling personality will be the center of attention this time around." Ryou smiled brightly and nodded as he took the invite and thanked him before heading off to class. Mai and Vivian seethed where they stood before walking off. "That little nitpicker is going to be the annoyance of a lifetime. I will not let some glamour boy take away the attention that's rightfully ours." Mai growled.

"Oh don't worry. I know how to take care of this matter." Vivian said with a smirk.

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After school that day, Mai and Vivian headed off to another section of the slums. "What are we doing here in the slums, Vivian? This is the last place I would want to be." Mai murmured. "This is where a good acquaintance of mine lives. Just give him a name and he'll ruin that person for sure." she answered as she stopped and opened a door. They walked inside until they came across a man sitting at a desk. "Hey…Dartz, I have a job for you." There was a soft chuckle before the man turned in his seat and looked to them. Mai stepped back when he saw the abnormally large serpent hanging about his neck.

"What is today's service, my dear?" he questioned.

"There's this brat at our school named Ryou Neirin. Apparently he got himself some new threads and trying to steal our thunder. I want you to deal with him and his fancy looks before Bakura's party Friday so we won't have to worry about the plain Jane coming around." Vivian explained. "Ryou Neirin, huh? Alright then. Consider it a done deal." he whispered with a smirk and she nodded before the two left. He gently stroked the jaw of his pet serpent. "Looks like you have a job to do, Leviathan." he murmured and the serpent hissed softly in reply.

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That Friday, Ryou was getting ready to head out to Bakura's party. Malik was still getting ready so he told him to go on ahead and he'll meet him there. He was still blushing at the thought of talking to Bakura on common ground. The teen headed out and started making his way there, unaware of the one watching from the shadows. "Such a pretty boy you are. Too bad that beauty is going to waste before you can show it off." Dartz whispered as he sent Leviathan after him. The roads were quiet which made the trip a little eerie for him but he continued on, knowing he had a party to get to. He stopped, though, when he thought he heard something. But there was nothing but silence and he shivered a little. "Maybe I should've waited for Malik..." he murmured softly as he continued on. The sound was heard again and he turned quickly, gasping as he saw the huge serpent coming after him.

He started running, the serpent hot on his heels. He ducked into the nearest alleyway and tossed garbage cans in the way of the serpents but it easily passed them before trapping him at a dead end. It hissed softly then Ryou heard clapping. "Good work, Leviathan. You got him right when we want him."

"Please...what do you want with me?" Ryou whimpered.

"Just doing a favor that a prior engagement asked me to do." he said before snapping his fingers and Leviathan attacked, tearing up the outfit to shreds but still left him with something to tread back home in. Ryou sobbed softly when he looked at the state of his outfit. "Who would want to do this? I just wanted to go to the party to talk with Bakura. Nothing else." he sniffled. Dartz looked to him before giving a sigh. "Usually I don't feel sympathy for the victim I'm ordered to deal with but I feel just a bit bad for you." he spoke as he moved over to him. "I haven't been to an engagement as popular as this party myself before but if you give me your invitation, I'll make the night worthwhile for you."

Ryou looked up to him then to the invitation in hand before handing it to him. "Sure. It isn't as if I'm going anywhere with my closet of plain clothes." he murmured before standing and left. Leviathan watched him before looking down to Dartz. He hissed slightly and Dartz laughed. "I can tell he has some feelings for that Bakura kid. And he's not too bad. Why Mai and Vivian want to be rid of him is understandable but sometimes, you just need to teach them a lesson in their own game." he murmured before he and the serpent left the alleyway.

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The party was underway and without Ryou around, Mai and Vivian got the attention that they and they alone thought they needed. "Nice. Without that plain freak around, we're garnering all the attention." Mai said with a smirk. "You got that right." Vivian agreed. But their fun was soon interrupted as a dark form appeared behind them and with a screech from both, they looked up to see Leviathan there, a smirk upon his face as he spat out the pieces of cloth and looked to his handiwork on their outfits. "What the...Dartz! What are you doing?!" Vivian screeched. He stepped up to them and chuckled. "Just being a messenger. Sometimes what goes around, comes around." he said. "The kid was interesting despite me doing the deed you asked so I decided to do the same to you to make him feel a little better that he won't be here to join the fun." he said and Bakura ran up to them. "Who are you?" he demanded. Dartz looked down to him.

"Just a messenger. Your 'sparkling personality' won't be able to make it and feels terribly saddened that he couldn't join his first fancy party. So why don't you go over and make him feel better." he explained. 'Sparkling personality..? Wait, Ryou!' Bakura thought before glaring at Mai and Vivian. "I'm sure you had something to do with Ryou not making it, didn't you?" he growled. "W-why of course not! Why would you suspect us?" she whispered. "Because, you two vie for attention like breathable air and once someone new comes in, you want to get rid of them! I'm sure that's the reason why he's here and knows you so well." he growled before leaving. All the teens now glared at Vivian and Mai and Dartz smirked before he and Leviathan made a stealthy exit.

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Ryou sighed as he changed and tossed out the shredded clothes. He heard a knock at the door and went over to open it, seeing Malik standing. "Hey, Ryou, what's going on? Weren't you going to the party?"

"I was but an accident came up so I decided against it."

"Oh." Malik sighed before coming inside. "Well if you're not going then what's the point of me going?" Ryou looked up to him and shook his head. "No, Malik, you shouldn't have to miss a great party because of me." Malik laughed softly before patting his shoulder. "Ryou, you've just moved here and found friends in Topaz and I and became enemies with the wicked witches of the school. I don't want to go to an awesome party if you're going to miss out on it too." he said and Ryou smiled as he hugged his friend. "Thanks." he whispered. They heard another knock at the door and looked to the door before looking to each other.

"Were you expecting any visitors?" Malik asked.

"No, not really."

Ryou moved back and went to open the door and gasped when he saw who was behind it. "Bakura?! Shouldn't you be hosing your own party?" Bakura smiled and shook his head. "Not when I know that you weren't going to be there. I heard of what happened from some guy named Dartz who showed up at the house. He ratted out Mai and Vivian for what they did and shredded up their clothes with a giant serpent he had. I take it the same thing happened to you?" he questioned and Ryou sighed before nodding. "Yeah. I was a little freaked when that snake showed up but it ruined my stuff and I didn't want to come to a formal party looking like how I usually do at school." he murmured with a soft sigh. Bakura frowned and rested a hand on his head.

"Ryou, I don't care if you look plain. What really matters is the heart. Sure, your clothing brought you out from everyone else but it didn't matter to me. I saw how sad you looked when Mai and Vivian called you out and honestly, it pissed me off. After that, I couldn't find you again until the next day." he said and Ryou smiled a little. "That's really sweet, Bakura. I mean, I understand I'm not popular and all so it gave me little reason to come up and try to get your attention. When Malik told me about the party, I really wanted to go so I could talk to you without there being some reason that usually prevents such a thing from happening when in school." he replied and Bakura laughed.

"Well, no need to worry about that anymore. I'm here with you now and I don't want it any other way. So what if my party's popular? I'm sure it'll end up being a bust with me not there and all the guys there knowing of Mai and Vivian's tacky little trick just to keep you from coming." he spoke and Ryou blushed a little before nodding. "Well, um...go ahead and make yourself at home. I'll go and get us some drinks." Malik smiled before walking back to the door. "I'm going to head home, actually. You two have fun and get to know each other." Malik laughed when he saw Ryou blush even more before leaving. The younger headed into the kitchen to get some sodas and handed one to Bakura before sitting down next to him but kept a decent amount of space between himself and Bakura, becoming shy that he and Bakura were alone.

"So, how's school life for you ever since you moved here?" Bakura asked.

"It's nice. Met some nice people, keeping up decent grades. How about you?"

"Nothing much. Decent grades, annoying desperate girls asking for dates and dealing with the pressure that is popularity." Ryou looked over to him, surprised. "I thought you would like to be popular and would have already had a girlfriend." Bakura shook his head as he took a sip of his drink. "Not in the slightest. Being popular is just an annoying way of getting a whole lot of attention directed at you. I hate it but I just go along with it so I don't have a riot on my hands about the matter. In all actuality, I wish I could be like you, Ryou."

"Like me? What's so special about me?" he asked. Bakura smiled softly. "Well, you are able to go about life your own way and not that of others. You don't have to worry about people wanting to know everything about you and do everything for you. Sure, it looks nice and all but it really is a drag." he explained and Ryou nodded. "I understand. From my perspective, it doesn't look like that but it's nothing but a ruse for those that stick around you." Bakura nodded and smiled a little. "There's also something else I like about you." Ryou looked over to him in wonder. "Really? What?" he asked softly. Bakura moved closer to him. "That sparkling personality that shines brighter than any fancy clothes that you wear. No one may be able to see it but I can." he whispered and softly kissed Ryou's cheek, making the boy blush hotly and he chuckled softly. "So why don't you and I start out on a good note and get together sometime for lunch." Ryou smiled and nodded and Bakura smiled as he settled down next to Ryou and wrapped an arm around him. Ryou relaxed against the other, glad his evening gotten even better.

'And surprisingly, it's thanks to a guy that nearly ruined it in the first place. Guess I have to thank him somehow if I knew how to find him.'

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Back in the slums, Dartz found himself meeting up with Keara. "Another job, huh?" she questioned as she crossed her arms.

"Yeah. Those little devils are demanding when someone gets in their way." he muttered. She sighed before whacking him upside the head. "That's for messing up my nice outfit but I guess I can forgive you since you helped out my client in the end." she murmured before walking off. "Don't think I'll ever be this civil again." Dartz chuckled before walking the other. "I know. We're rivals in the slums for a reason." he said before they were both gone to their respectable hideouts.

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Zypher: And there you have it. Another nice little chapter for LC. The inspiration for it came from an episode of My Life as a Teenage Robot. Haven't seen that show in ages and it's good to watch it again and now I found a place online to watch it which makes it even better! -smiles- Well, hoped you enjoyed and I'll see you later with another chapter.